Grace Thompson
Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic, has been the subject of scrutiny and criticism due to her religious beliefs and affiliations. Barrett, a favourite among Trump's evangelical Christian base, has stated that her legal career is a means to serve God and build the Kingdom of God. Her reported membership in the conservative Catholic covenant community, People of Praise, has raised concerns about potential authoritarianism and cult-like practices. While some view her faith as irrelevant to her judicial qualifications, others worry about the impact of her religious beliefs on her jurisprudence, especially regarding controversial issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and the death penalty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic | Yes |
| Member of People of Praise | Yes |
| Mother of seven children | Yes |
| Age | 48 |
| Profession | Appellate court judge |
| School | Notre Dame Law School |
| Political affiliation | Conservative |
| Religious affiliation | Christian |
| Political views | Anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, pro-gun rights |
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What You'll Learn
Barrett's Catholic beliefs and their influence on her jurisprudence
Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been the subject of scrutiny regarding her Catholic faith, particularly following her nomination by former US President Donald Trump to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett is a member of a secretive Catholic "covenant community" called People of Praise, which has been described as a "highly authoritarian" structure and a religious cult. The group emerged from the Catholic charismatic movement of the 1960s, blending Catholicism with Protestant Pentecostalism, and has been criticised for its practices, including speaking in tongues and faith healing.
Barrett has publicly identified herself as a "faithful Catholic" and has stated that her legal career is a "means to the end of serving God". In a 2006 commencement speech at Notre Dame Law School, she told graduates to see their legal careers as "a means to an end, and that end is building the kingdom of God". This statement has been interpreted by some as an indication of a potential political agenda, while others argue that she was simply restating Catholic teachings.
The potential influence of Barrett's Catholic beliefs on her jurisprudence has been a subject of debate. Some critics worry that her religious views could impact her rulings on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. For example, Barrett's willingness to hear cases pertaining to abortion has been criticised as a contradiction of her earlier suggestion that Catholic judges should recuse themselves from cases related to the death penalty. However, supporters argue that her faith will not influence her judicial duties and that her conservative legal views are based on her interpretation of the law rather than her religious beliefs.
While Barrett's Catholic faith has been a controversial topic, it is important to note that other justices have also highlighted their religious faith without provoking similar levels of controversy. Additionally, not all Catholic justices share the same ideological positions, demonstrating that religious affiliation does not necessarily determine judicial rulings.
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Her membership in the covenant community, People of Praise
Amy Coney Barrett is a devout Catholic and mother of seven children, two of whom were adopted from Haiti, and one who is a child with Down syndrome. She has said that she is a "faithful Catholic" but that her religious beliefs would not "bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge". She has also said that legal careers ought not to be seen as a means of gaining satisfaction, prestige, or money, but rather as a means to the end of serving God.
Barrett is a member of a "covenant community" called People of Praise, which has been described as a secretive Catholic group that faces claims of a "highly authoritarian" structure. The group emerged from the Catholic charismatic movement of the late 1960s, blending Catholicism and Protestant Pentecostalism. People of Praise involves practices such as speaking in tongues and faith healing, which draw more from fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity than the Vatican.
Barrett has not publicly discussed her affiliation with People of Praise, but her connection was reported in multiple media accounts at the time of her confirmation to an appellate court in 2017. Her picture appears in a May 2006 edition of People of Praise’s magazine, which documents her participation in a Leaders’ Conference for Women. Her father and her husband, Jesse Barrett, are also known members.
People of Praise has been described as an organization that appears to dominate some members' everyday lives. So-called heads or spiritual advisors make big life decisions, and members are expected to financially support one another. Married women, such as Barrett, count their husbands as their "heads", and all members are expected to donate 5% of their income to the organization.
While some conservative and progressive activists have argued that any discussion of Barrett's faith is inappropriate in the context of a Senate confirmation, others have said it is fair to scrutinize People of Praise because the group falls far outside mainstream Catholicism.
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Her views on abortion and the death penalty
Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative US Supreme Court Justice, has been at the forefront of the legal discourse on abortion and the death penalty. A devout Catholic, Barrett's views on abortion have been the centre of her support and condemnation.
In her memoir, 'Listening to the Law', Barrett defends her vote to reverse Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that protected abortion rights nationally. She writes that the "complicated moral debate" about abortion sets it apart from other rights that have broad public support, such as "the rights to marry, have sex, procreate, and use contraception". Barrett further contends that the right to end a pregnancy was never deeply rooted in US history as were other implicit constitutional rights. She believes that the court's role is to respect the choices of the people and not to dictate what they should agree upon.
Barrett's stance on abortion has been criticised by three liberal justices, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer, who argue that courts will now face questions over the application of abortion regulations to medical care. Despite the criticism, Barrett maintains that her personal convictions would not influence her legal decisions. During her confirmation hearings, she stressed that her Catholic affiliation would not impact her duties as a judge. She stated that she would decide cases according to the rule of law and recuse herself in the rare circumstance that she had a conscientious objection.
In terms of the death penalty, Barrett's views are more nuanced. In her book, she refers to her vote to reinstate the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, despite her personal resistance to capital punishment. Barrett acknowledges the conflict between her moral commitments and the demands of the law, demonstrating a recognition of the complexity of these issues.
While Barrett's views on abortion and the death penalty are informed by her Catholic faith, she emphasises that her role as a judge takes precedence. She navigates the complexities of these issues by striving for neutrality and independence in her legal decision-making process.
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Her nomination to the Supreme Court
Amy Coney Barrett, a self-proclaimed "faithful Catholic", was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve on the Supreme Court in September 2020. She was Trump's third Supreme Court pick, filling the vacancy left by the death of veteran liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Barrett's nomination brought attention to her Catholic faith and her association with the secretive Catholic group, People of Praise. The group has been described as highly authoritarian and lacking transparency and accountability to its members, the Catholic Church, and the public. There were concerns about the potential influence of her religious beliefs on her judicial decisions, particularly in areas such as LGBTQ rights and abortion. Lambda Legal, an LGBT civil rights organization, co-signed a letter with 26 other gay rights organizations opposing Barrett's nomination, questioning her ability to separate faith from her rulings on LGBT matters.
During her Senate confirmation hearings, Barrett addressed these concerns by stating that her religious beliefs would not "bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge". She also affirmed that she would follow binding precedents, including landmark LGBTQ legal precedents such as Obergefell v. Hodges, United States v. Windsor, and Lawrence v. Texas.
Supporters of Barrett's nomination highlighted her intellect and the depth of her legal career. Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, praised Barrett for her boldness and intellectual contributions to the law. Barrett's nomination was also supported by her former colleagues and law clerks at Notre Dame Law School, where she was a professor before becoming a judge.
Barrett's nomination was rushed through the US Senate by the Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, within weeks of Justice Ginsburg's death. Her confirmation gave the Supreme Court a 6-3 conservative supermajority that consistently ruled in favour of Trump's administration.
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Her conservative legal views
Amy Coney Barrett, a "faithful Catholic", has been criticised for her conservative legal views, particularly in the context of her nomination to the Supreme Court. Her views on abortion, the death penalty, and marriage equality have been a cause for concern for many.
Barrett's views on abortion are perhaps the most contentious. Critics argue that her opposition to abortion, which aligns with Catholic doctrine, would influence her rulings as a Supreme Court Justice. In a law review article, Barrett considered the possibility of Catholic judges recusing themselves from death penalty cases, yet she later heard cases pertaining to abortion. This has been interpreted as a willingness to "take dominion over a woman's body for nine months, forcing them to bring an unwanted pregnancy to term". Barrett's supporters, however, argue that her religious beliefs would not impact her judicial duties and that her personal beliefs are being unfairly scrutinised.
Barrett's views on the death penalty are also informed by her Catholic faith. In a 2006 commencement speech at Notre Dame Law School, she advised graduates to see their legal careers as "a means to an end... that end is building the kingdom of God". This statement has been interpreted as evidence that Barrett's judicial decisions would be influenced by her religious beliefs. However, theology professors have argued that Barrett was simply restating Catholic teachings and that her comments reflected the power of God's grace in human affairs.
Barrett's views on marriage equality are also conservative. As a member of the Catholic group People of Praise, she adheres to traditional social views, including the submissive role of women. Married women in the group count their husbands as their "heads", and the group's literature discourages exclusive relationships and same-sex attraction among teenagers. While most of its members are Catholic, the group's practices, including speaking in tongues and faith healing, are more aligned with fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity.
Barrett's conservative legal views extend beyond social issues. As a law professor and federal judge, she has taken controversial positions on gun rights, immigration, and healthcare. However, these views cannot be solely attributed to her Catholicism, and other Catholic justices have held opposing ideologies.
Overall, while Barrett's conservative legal views are informed by her Catholic faith, the extent of their influence on her judicial decisions is a matter of speculation. Her supporters argue that her religious beliefs are irrelevant to her responsibilities as a judge, while critics worry that her personal beliefs will impact her rulings on a variety of issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Amy Coney Barrett is a self-proclaimed "faithful Catholic" and a member of a secretive Catholic "covenant community" called People of Praise.
People of Praise is a conservative Catholic covenant community that has been criticized for its highly traditional social views and authoritarian structure. The group has been described as a cult by some former members.
The group's beliefs include speaking in tongues and faith healing, which draw more from fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity than the Vatican. People of Praise also believes in the submissive role of women, some of whom were called “handmaids” until the show *The Handmaid's Tale* aired in 2017, after which they were referred to as “women leaders."
Barrett has stated that her religious beliefs would not influence her duties as a judge. However, her Catholicism has been a subject of speculation due to her reported membership in People of Praise and her conservative legal views on issues such as abortion, gun rights, immigration, and healthcare.
